Ethno-Cultural Diversity and Multidimensional Poverty Differential in Cameroon (Diversite Ethno-Culturelle Et Differentiel De Pauvrete Multidimensionnelle AU Cameroun)

Abstract

Few studies have reconciled the multidimensional nature of poverty with the cultural conditioning of population to orient policies. A SEM (Structural Equations Modeling) strategy, through the comparison of nested models, was used to formulate and test four research hypotheses. Results show that observed differences in poverty dimensions result significantly (which does not mean exclusively) from differences in the cultural value systems between groups. Culture influences poverty in two ways: differences in perceptions and in poverty determinants. Considering these results, we propose a participative, decentralized and prudent approach in order to develop a credible strategy of poverty alleviation that responds to the needs expressed by the concerned populations.

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Keywords: Multidimensional poverty, culture, poverty differential, nested models, latent variables, sequential equation models, poverty indicators

JEL Classification: I32, I39